Luis María Echeberría, Spanish footballer, Died at 76

  Sports

Luis María Echeberría Igartua was born on March 24, 1940, in Asua, Biscay and died on October 19, 2016.

He was a Spanish footballer.

Luis played as a defender.

In 1961, he signed for Athletic Bilbao at the age of 21, from Basque Country neighbours CD Basconia, at that time still not the club’s farm team.

Echeberría made his first-team – and La Liga – debut on 10 September 1961 in a 1–2 away loss against Sevilla FC, and finished his debut season with 29 league appearances (out of a possible 30) as his team finished fifth.

In the next years, he was a part of a legendary Athletic defense that also featured José Ángel Iribar in goal, Jesús Aranguren and Iñaki Sáez, helping the Lions to the 1969 Copa del Rey and appearing in more than 300 official games with his main club.

Echeberría retired from football in 1973 (aged 33) after one season with Barakaldo CF, in Segunda División.

He gained four caps for Spain during nearly one year (exactly 11 months and three weeks).

Luis María Echeberría passed away at 76 years old.